Firings For Protesting Israel Contract Were Illegal, Say Ex-Google Workers

A group of workers at Alphabet Inc's Google have filed a complaint with a US labor board claiming the tech company unlawfully fired them for protesting its cloud contract with the Israeli government.

The complaint was filed late Monday with the US National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), according to No Tech For Apartheid, a group affiliated with some of the workers. The group said the complaint alleges that by firing the workers, Google interfered with their rights under US labor law to advocate for better working conditions.

Reuters could not immediately obtain a copy of the complaint. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Google this month said it had fired 28 employees who disrupted work at unspecified office locations while protesting Project Nimbus, a $1.2 billion contract jointly awarded to Google and Amazon.com to supply the Israeli government with cloud services.

The workers claim the project supports Israel's development of military tools. Google has said the Nimbus contract "is not directed at highly sensitive, classified, or military workloads relevant to weapons or intelligence services."

Zelda Montes, a former Google employee who was arrested during a protest of Project Nimbus, said in a statement that Google fired workers to suppress organizing and send a message to its workforce that dissent would not be tolerated.

“Google is attempting to instill fear in employees," Montes said.

The workers in the NLRB complaint are seeking to be reinstated to their jobs with back pay, and a statement from Google that it will not violate workers' rights to organize.

The NLRB general counsel, which acts as a prosecutor, reviews complaints and attempts to settle claims it finds to have merit. If that fails, the general counsel can pursue cases before administrative judges and a five-member board appointed by the US president.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

लखनऊ के क्रिकेटर के पास आखिरी मौका, T20 वर्ल्ड कप खेलना है तो आज दिखाना होगा..

IPL 2024 MI vs LSG: टी20 विश्व कप के लिए भारतीय क्रिकेट टीम एक मई को चुनी जानी है. वर्ल्ड कप के टीम चयन से पहले आईपीएल 2024 में अब बस एक ही मुकाबला होना है. यह मैच लखनऊ सुपरजायंट्स के कप्तान केएल राहुल के लिए टी20 वर्ल्ड कप स्क्वॉड में आने का आखिरी मौका भी है.

Man Uses PM's Name In Wedding Card, Poll Officials Visit His Karnataka Home

A groom found himself embroiled in controversy after his wedding invitation sparked debate over his political affiliation, police said on Monday.

Uppinangady police in Puttur taluk of Dakshina Kannada, responded to a complaint lodged by officials overseeing election code adherence.

The focal point of contention was the tagline in the wedding invitation. "The best present you will give the couple is electing Modi as PM once again," it said.

According to police, a complaint was lodged by one of the groom's relatives to the Election Commission regarding the tagline.

Based on the complaint, Election Commission officials visited the groom's residence in Puttur taluk on April 14. The groom explained that the invitations were printed on March 1, before the election dates were announced. He also clarified that the tagline expresses admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and concern for the nation. The marriage took place on April 18.

Despite the groom's explanation, EC lodged a complaint with Uppinangady police on April 26, following which a FIR was registered.

Furthermore, the press owner responsible for printing the invitation is also under the scanner of the EC and the police.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Video: Srinagar-Jammu Highway Hit By Massive Landslide After Heavy Rain

Non-stop rains and snowfall have triggered landslides and flash floods in several of Jammu and Kashmir causing damage to public infrastructure and private property. The Srinagar-Jammu national highway was closed today due to landslides at multiple places along the highway.  A large number of vehicles are stranded along the Highway.

A video showed rocks and debris sliding down a mountainside and falling on the highway.

The highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with rest of the country, was blocked by landslides at Mehar, Gangroo, Mom Passi and Kishtwari Pather in Ramban district.

The rains are continuing, hampering restoration works, officials said, advising commuters to avoid journeys on the highway till it is cleared of the debris.

Kupwara district in north Kashmir was cut off from the rest of the Valley due to flood waters inundating roads and several villages have also been affected by floods.
 
In Ramban district, a 13-year-old boy was killed after he was hit by a boulder after a landslide.

In the Boniyar area of Baramulla district, seven members of a family were injured after their house collapsed due to landslides.

All schools across Kashmir will remain closed tomorrow in the wake of incessant rains, flash floods and landslides in  several areas.

The Kashmir University has postponed exams that were scheduled for tomorrow.

Jailed In Israel, Palestinian Writer Wins Top Prize For Arabic Fiction

Palestinian writer Basim Khandaqji, jailed 20 years ago in Israel, won a prestigious prize for Arabic fiction on Sunday for his novel "A Mask, the Colour of the Sky".

The award of the 2024 International Prize for Arabic Fiction was announced at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi.

The prize was accepted on Khandaqji's behalf by Rana Idriss, owner of Dar al-Adab, the book's Lebanon-based publisher.

Khandaqji was born in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Nablus in 1983, and wrote short stories until his arrest in 2004 at the age of 21.

He was convicted and jailed on charges relating to a deadly bombing in Tel Aviv, and completed his university education from inside jail via the internet.

The mask in the novel's title refers to the blue identity card that Nur, an archaeologist living in a refugee camp in Ramallah, finds in the pocket of an old coat belonging to an Israeli.

Khandaqji's book was chosen from 133 works submitted to the competition.

Nabil Suleiman, who chaired the jury, said the novel "dissects a complex, bitter reality of family fragmentation, displacement, genocide, and racism".

Since being jailed Khandaqji has written poetry collections including "Rituals of the First Time" and "The Breath of a Nocturnal Poem".

He has also written three earlier novels.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Indian Googled "How To Kill Instantly" Before Stabbing Ex Girlfriend In UK

The Hyderabad man who slashed his ex-girlfriend's throat before stabbing her nine times at a London restaurant in 2022 searched for ways to "kill a human instantly with a knife", his online search history shows.

Sriram Ambarla, a 25-year-old from Hyderabad attacked his ex-girlfriend Sona Biju, 23, at the restaurant where she worked after threatening to murder her if she did not agree to marry him.

When Ms Biju turned him down by saying that she "did not want to live by his rules", Ambarla grabbed her by the neck and began stabbing her. She survived the vicious attack but had to spent a month at a hospital in a critical condition.

Ambarla has been found guilty and sentenced to 16 years in jail in London.

During his sentencing hearing, the court was told that moments before Ambarla attacked, he searched online for “What happens if a foreigner murders someone in the UK”, “How easy is it to kill someone with a knife” and “How to kill a human instantly with a knife.”

“Jealous, possessive, and determined”

The 2022 attack came after Ambarla manipulated and physically and mentally abused Ms Biju for years, the court was told. The two began dating in 2017 after they met at a Hyderabad college.

However, the relationship quickly turned abusive, leading to their split around 2019 during which Ambarla used threats of self-harm to control Ms Biju. He repeatedly showed up at her house unexpectedly and tried to blackmail her into marrying him, the victim said. 

In 2022, both Ambarla and Ms Biju moved to UK in 2022 to pursue a master's degree at the University of East London but the abuse continued. Ambarla would regularly contact the restaurant she worked at to talk to her and order food in hopes that she would deliver it to his house.

Weeks after they moved, he visited the restaurant, where Ms Biju served him food, treating him just like any other patron. He sat there looking through his phone in an unsettling manner, she said.

Moments later, he approached her and repeated his offer to marry her or else he would kill her. When she refused, he took out a knife and stabbed her repeatedly. He told the police that he snapped when he overheard her talking about wanting to celebrate the breakup.

Iraq Passes Bill Criminalising Same-Sex Relations, Jail Upto 15 Years

Iraq's parliament passed a bill on Saturday criminalising same-sex relations, which will receive a sentence of up to 15 years in prison, in a move rights groups condemned as an "attack on human rights".

Transgender people will be sentenced to three years' jail under the amendments to a 1988 anti-prostitution law, which were adopted during a session attended by 170 out of 329 lawmakers.

A previous draft had proposed capital punishment for same-sex relations, in what campaigners had called a "dangerous" escalation.

The new amendments enable courts to sentence people engaging in same-sex relations to between 10 to 15 years in prison, according to the document seen by AFP, in the country where gay and transgender people already face frequent attacks and discrimination.

They also set a minimum seven-year prison term for "promoting" same-sex relations and a sentence ranging from one to three years for men who "intentionally" act like women. 

The amended law makes "biological sex change based on personal desire and inclination" a crime and punishes transgender people and doctors who perform gender-affirming surgery with up to three years in prison.

Homosexuality is taboo in Iraq's conservative society, however there had not previously been a law that explicitly punished same-sex relations.

Members of Iraq's LGBTQ community have been prosecuted for sodomy or under vague morality and anti-prostitution clauses in Iraq's penal code. 

"Iraq has effectively codified in law the discrimination and violence members of the LGBTI community have been subjected to with absolute impunity for years," said Amnesty International's Iraq researcher Razaw Salihy.

"The amendments concerning LGBTI rights are a violation of fundamental human rights and put at risk Iraqis whose lives are already hounded daily," Salihy added.

The amendments also ban organisations that "promote" homosexuality and punish "wife swapping" with a prison sentence of 10 to 15 years.

"The law serves as a preventive measure to protect society from such acts," lawmaker Raed al-Maliki, who advanced the amendments, told AFP.

He said passing the new amendment was postponed until after Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani's visit to the United States earlier this month.

The United States and the European Union oppose the law and "we didn't want to impact the visit," he said.

"It is an internal matter and we do not accept any interference in Iraqi affairs."

The US State Department is "deeply concerned" about the legislation, spokesman Matt Miller said Saturday, adding that the law threatens those most at risk in Iraqi society and "undermines the government's political and economic reform efforts."

LGBTQ Iraqis have been forced into the shadows, often targeted with "kidnappings, rapes, torture and murders" that go unpunished, according to a 2022 report by Human Rights Watch and the IraQueer non-governmental organisation.

Iraqi politicians and social media users have increasingly resorted to anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, which stokes further fear among members of the community.

Human Rights Watch's Iraq researcher Sarah Sanbar said the new law change "is a horrific development and an attack on human rights".

"Rather than focusing on enacting laws that would benefit Iraqis -- like passing the draft domestic violence law or draft child protection law -- Iraq is choosing to codify discrimination against LGBT people," she said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Siddaramaiah Sets Up Team To Probe Sex Scandal Involving JDS MP

A day after voting took place in the constituency, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has ordered the formation of a special investigation team to probe a sex scandal allegedly involving Hassan MP and Janata Dal (Secular) candidate from the seat, Prajwal Revanna. Mr Revanna, grandson of JDS chief and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has left for Germany.

After videos depicting sexual acts began circulating in Hassan, some of which allegedly involved women being forced or filmed without their consent, the Karnataka State Commission for Women had, on Thursday, asked the chief minister to set up a special investigation team. 

Announcing the decision on Saturday, Siddaramaiah wrote in Kannada on X, "The government has decided to form a special investigation team in connection with the Prajwal Revanna obscene video case. Obscene video clips are circulating in Hassan district, where it appears that women have been sexually assaulted.

"In this backdrop, the Chairperson of the Women's Commission had written a letter to the government to conduct an SIT investigation. This decision has been taken in response to their request," he wrote.

Mr Revanna left for Germany on Saturday morning.

The JDS is in an alliance with the BJP and, earlier in the day, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar demanded answers from the ruling party at the Centre as well. 

"The allegations of sexual assault are not just on some random Hassan leader. (Karnataka BJP Chief) BY Vijayendra and others must answer. I read reports of them saying that the Women's Commission is trying to tarnish their image. The Commission has written a letter to the chief minister and the home Minister," Mr Shivakumar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. 

On JDS leader and former chief minister HD Kumaraswamy's indirectly accusing him of involvement in the case, Mr Shivakumar said, "Let him bring up my name. I will expose him. Is he justifying sexual assault against women by talking like this?"

Nearly Half Of Bengaluru Voters Skip Voting In Phase 2 Of Lok Sabha Polls

Nearly half of Bengaluru's voters did not turn up to vote in the Lok Sabha elections on Friday.

Voting took place in 14 constituencies in Karnataka, with the Election Commission estimating the turnout at 69.23 per cent.

However, the percentage of voters who exercised their franchise in three urban constituencies in the city -- Bangalore Central, Bangalore North and Bangalore South -- was significantly lower.

The approximate voter turnout in Bangalore Central was 52.81 per cent, Bangalore North - 54.42 per cent and Bangalore South - 53.15 per cent.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the turnout in Bengaluru Central was 54.32 per cent, Bengaluru North - 54.76 per cent and Bengaluru South - 53.70 per cent.

Election Commission officials were disappointed due to the turnout despite their vigorous efforts to increase participation.

"There is no explanation for it. That is the truth," a top EC official said.

According to poll officials, scorching summer heat is said to be one of the reasons for the people not turning up at polling booths in the city.

However, Bangalore Rural saw an approximate voter turnout of 67.29 per cent.

Mandya and Kolar had a turnout of 81.48 per cent and 78.07 per cent, respectively.

The Election Commission in Karnataka came out with several initiatives to increase turnout in this election in urban constituencies -- from encouraging the public to use various apps to putting QR codes on voter slips to locate polling booths.

Voter Helpline, 'Know Your Candidate' and updating details about number of voters in queue and kind of parking facilities available at polling booths, especially in Bengaluru, and an elaborate booth election management plan were among the other measures taken.

The EC had also come up with better facilities at the polling stations in the urban constituencies based on the feedback they received following a survey conducted by the Election Commission in the areas which registered low voter turnout in the 2023 Karnataka Assembly election and the previous Lok Sabha elections. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Explained: Why Is South Korea Reportedly Banning iPhones For The Military

The South Korean military is considering a comprehensive ban on iPhones within its buildings, citing concerns about potential leaks of sensitive information through voice recordings. The decision came after joint meetings held by the army, navy, and air force headquarters, with nationalistic motives also playing a role in favouring homegrown brands over foreign ones, The Korea Herald reported.

Korean Air Force issues directive

The Korean Air Force took the lead in enforcing the widespread ban. In an internal directive issued on April 11, it instructed its personnel to stop using iPhones inside the facilities.

The ban also named other devices capable of recording and sharing voice recordings beyond third-party app controls. In addition to iPhones, other products, including Apple Watches, are also reportedly included in the ban.

The military document stresses the importance of blocking voice recording in all communication scenarios within military buildings, whether formal or informal.

Are Androids banned too?

Android-based devices, particularly those manufactured by Samsung, are exempt from the ban within the South Korean military.

The ban will reportedly extend across the entire South Korean military, with the army reportedly testing similar restrictions. While restrictions on smart devices in secure facilities are common, implementing a total ban is unusual.

How the ban helps local brands

The decision seems to favour local brands such as Samsung, but there still appear to be doubts regarding how well the current security measures work and if they're consistent. If enforced across all military units, the ban would impact nearly 500,000 personnel within the South Korean military.

Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces, Terrorists In J&K's Sopore

An encounter broke out between security forces and terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Thursday, police said.

"An encounter has started at Check Mohalla Nowpora in the area of PD (police district) Sopore," the Jammu and Kashmir Police (Kashmir Zone) said in a post on X.

An #encounter has started at Check Mohalla Nowpora in the area of PD #Sopore. Police & security forces are on the job. Further details shall follow.@JmuKmrPolice

— Kashmir Zone Police (@KashmirPolice) April 25, 2024

The operation is currently underway, the police said.

Further details were awaited. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Vladimir Putin Biopic Set For Release, With An AI Twist

An upcoming film titled 'Putin' has grabbed attention for its promise to delve deep into the life and personality of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Using advanced AI technology, the movie aims to portray Putin's character over six decades, including moments from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Scheduled for release in September, the trailer shows Putin in unusual situations, like wearing a soiled diaper and practicing karate.

Directed by Polish filmmaker Besaleel, also known as Patryk Vega, the film is described as a "psychological thriller" that aims to uncover the mysteries surrounding Putin's personality. Vega highlights the extensive three-year process of filming, advanced AI techniques, and careful storytelling used to explore the motives and actions of one of today's most talked-about political figures.

The producers are dedicated to presenting a detailed and realistic depiction of Putin's story, utilising cutting-edge AI to achieve this. Set to be released in English, 'Putin' promises to provide viewers with an unprecedented look into the complexities of Putin's life and influence.

In a statement released via PR Leap, Polish studio AIO said the film will be released in 35 countries and describes itself as "up close and personal with the Kremlin leader's story.".

The studio has released a 2.5-minute trailer for the film.

According to the makers, the movie was filmed over three years in locations such as the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Israel, Syria, Jordan, and Poland. The movie's timeliness is one of its most significant aspects.

"Putin is not just a film," filmmaker Vega states. "It's a response to a global quest to understand the motives and actions of one of the most controversial figures in contemporary politics. My production's mission is to provide viewers with a 'user manual' for Putin.

Ankita-Vicky, Rashami Lit Up Arti Singh's Sangeet Ceremony

Television actress and Krushna Abhishek's sister Arti Singh is all set to marry her fiance Dipak Chauhan on April 25. The to-be-wed couple kicked off their pre-wedding celebrations earlier this week. On Tuesday night, Arti and Dipak hosted a sangeet ceremony in the presence of friends and family. For the night, bride-to-be Arti Singh was seen wearing a stunning green lehenga while her fiance can be seen complimenting her in a printed kurta. In one photo, bride-to-be Arti could be seen holding Dipak close. Another photo featured Dipak and Arti posing with their family. Arti's brother, Krushna Abhishek also joined the couple for a happy picture.

Other attendees at the sangeet included Ankita Lokhande, Vicky Jain, Rashami Desai, Yuvika Singh, Devoleena Bhattacharjee, Karan Singh Grover, Kishwer Merchant, Shefali with her husband Parag among others.

Take a look at some pictures from the night:

Earlier, several photos and videos from the actress' haldi function went viral on the Internet. In one of the viral videos, Arti Singh can be seen dancing joyfully while planting a kiss on Dipak's cheeks. Her brother Krushna Abhishek and sister-in-law Kashmera Shah also joined in the celebration.

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A post shared by Star Style Story 🦋 (@starstylestory)

Arti Singh shared two photos on her Instagram handle. Sharing the pictures, she wrote, "Sabse Khoobsurat Rang, Haldi Ka Rang, Mere Pyar Ke Rang. (Most beautiful colour, Haldi's colour) Couldn't be happier as dreams turn into reality. #Day1 #Haldi #DipakKiArti."

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A post shared by Arti singh sharma (@artisingh5)

Opening up about her marriage, Arti Singh told ETimes TV that it is a "purely arranged marriage." She said, "It's purely an arranged marriage. There was obviously a period of courtship where we wanted to get to know each other better and assess our compatibility. We first spoke on July 23 last year and met after his birthday (August 5). As things progressed, I decided to commit to this relationship in November. However, we didn't move forward until both our families approved of our union. On January 1, Dipak proposed marriage to me with a ring at my guruji's temple in Delhi and I said yes. I consider that moment as my engagement.”

अकेले पूरी चेन्नई की टीम से भिड़ गया, जबड़े से छीन ली जीत, ठोकी सेंचुरी

चेन्नई सुपर किंग्स ने टॉस हारने के बाद कप्तान रुतुराज गायकवाड की शतक और शिवम दुबे की तेज फिफ्टी के दम पर 4 विकेट के नुकसान पर 210 रन का स्कोर खड़ा किया. मार्कस स्टोइनिस ने अकेले लड़ते हुए धुंआधार सेंचुरी ठोकी और टीम को जीत दिलाकर वापस लौटे.

Wallets, Mobiles Stolen During BJP Candidate's Ramayan Roadshow

A Meerut businessman raised both his hands and chanted the Jai Shri Ram slogan as a BJP roadshow featuring Ramayan stars crossed his shop. The downside: he lost Rs 36,000 as someone from the crowd picked his pocket.

Along with the businessman, Kulbhushan, a dozen people, including some journalists, and a BJP leader were mugged and mobiles were stolen during the roadshow.

"Jai Siyaram my dear ones of Meerut. Today, Sita, Ram and Laxman who acted in Ramayana, will be among you from 3:00 onwards at Nandan Cinema Kailashpuri, New Road, Shastri Nagar, Surajkund, to have your darshan. I will be fulfilled by seeing you all," Arun Govil, of Ramayan fame, BJP's Meerut candidate posted on X.

जय सियाराम मेरे मेरठ के प्रियजनों
आज आपके बीच रामायण में अभिनय करने वाले सीता राम और लक्ष्मण आपके दर्शन करने के लिए आपके बीच 3:00 से नंदन सिनेमा कैलाशपुरी नई सड़क शास्त्री नगर सूरजकुंड पर पहुंचेंगे आप सभी दर्शन से में कृतार्थ हो पाऊंगा आपकी प्रतीक्षा में आपका अरुण गोविल pic.twitter.com/MYW29xkRWt

— Arun Govil (@arungovil12) April 22, 2024

The roadshow featured his other co-stars from the iconic show - Dipika Chikhlia, who played Sita, and Sunil Lahri, who essayed the role of Lakshman.

ऐसे ही मेरठ को नहीं कहा जाता क्रांतिधरा जब यहां से ज्वाला उठाती है तो वह पूरे राष्ट्र में जाती है रामराज्य की ज्वाला जल चुकी है लिए आप भी अपनी आहुति अधिक मतदान कर प्रदान करें pic.twitter.com/EyrcMS3qQr

— Arun Govil (@arungovil12) April 22, 2024

"I was at sitting at my shop. I raised my hands and chanted Jai Shri Ram. There was a big crowd. As I got back and searched my pocket, there was no money. I fainted right there. I lost Rs 36,000," said a crestfallen Kubhushan.

Businessman who lost Rs 36,000 during the roadshow

 Police have detained at least 3 people and are questioning them

An investigation is underway. 
 

"No Warranty For Modi's Guarantee": Revanth Reddy On Congress's Chances

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has expressed confidence his party the Congress will win 14 of the 17 Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Mr Reddy became Chief Minister in December 2023 after the Congress defeated K Chandrashekar Rao's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

"Every medicine has an expiry date," Mr Reddy told reporters in Karnataka's capital Bengaluru during an informal interaction, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lose the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

The Chief Minister did not tell whether his confidence comes from the party winning the assembly election in the southern state.

The BJP and its ideological mentor Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) have been against the well-being and development of southern states, the Chief Minister alleged.

"There is no warranty for Modi's guarantees," Mr Reddy said.

He dared the Opposition BRS to win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections.

The BJP may stand to gain from the votes that the BRS will lose, but the Congress will still be able to take at least 14 seats, Mr Reddy said.

He said the Congress party, unlike the BJP and the RSS that have been discriminating against southern states, has always been inclusive by appointing leaders from these states to key cabinet and party positions, even when the Congress had swept the Hindi heartland.

Though Mr Reddy criticised Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM of allegedly colluding with the BJP to polarise voters during election season, he admitted that in a city as Hyderabad where terror groups have tried to radicalise young Muslims, the presence of a political party as AIMIM helped in containing radicalisation.

Mr Reddy recently campaigned in Kerala too. He said the BJP will likely be restricted to a maximum of 20 among the 130 seats in the southern states. In the northern states, the BJP's numbers will decrease from what it had got in 2019.

The elections are being held in seven phases. Votes will be counted on June 4.

On CCTV, UP Businessman Pushes Man Off 5-Star Hotel's Terrace After Fight

A pre-wedding party turned violent when a businessman pushed a man who had an argument with his son off the terrace of a five-star hotel in Uttar Pradesh. The chilling incident that happened in the early hours of Sunday has been captured on a CCTV camera installed at the hotel in Bareilly. In one of the frames, the victim can be seen touching the feet of the accused, moments before he was thrown off the terrace.

Victim Sarthak Agrawal - a businessman in the health sector - has been admitted to a medical college in critical condition.

The victim had gone to the hotel with his friends, including Ridim Arora whose father threw Mr Agrawal from the terrace, to attend the party. Soon after an argument broke out between them that escalated into a physical fight around 2 AM. Ridim then called his father Sanjeev Arora, a textile businessman, to the scene.

Footage shows a heated argument between the two groups before Sanjeev Arora enters the frame. Mr Agrawal was seen touching his feet after which Mr Arora grabbed him by his collar, slapped him and then pushed him off the hotel terrace. He doesn't stop there, he then turns to a man standing next to him and beats him up.

Sarthak Agrawal's father Sanjay Agrawal has denied any connection with the accused, saying, "Neither my son nor I have any idea who these people are."

 A First Information Report stated the accused were drunk and attacked the victim without any provocation. A case of assault causing grievous harm has been registered in connection to the incident.

Ex Pakistan PM Imran Khan's Party Accuses Army Of Kidnapping His Nephew

Pakistan's jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's party on Saturday alleged that his nephew Hassan Niazi has been "abducted" from military custody and shifted to an undisclosed location to put pressure on him.

The development comes days after Mr Khan, 71, alleged that the Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir was directly responsible for the imprisonment of his wife Bushra Bibi.

Over 100 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders and workers have been in the Army's custody facing military trials for their alleged involvement in attacking key military installations in May last year following the arrest of Imran Khan in a corruption case.

Mr Khan, the founder of PTI, is facing more than 100 cases and has been lodged at the Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi for over eight months now.

"We strongly condemn the abduction of Imran Khan's nephew Hassan Niazi and another young PTI leader Ibad Farooq from military captivity. We want the Supreme Court to ensure their immediate release and hold kidnappers accountable," PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan said in a statement.

The spokesperson voiced great concerns over the shifting of both PTI leaders Hassan to an unknown place and said that around 100 innocent citizens have been kept in illegal military custody under the guise of a "May 9 false flag operation", who were being subjected to political revenge.

"The inhuman treatment being meted out with the young PTI leaders is purely political because they have been facing the worst state oppression and brutality courageously for the last 10 months," he said.

He said that the abduction of Niazi and Farooq was an open attack on the sanctity of law and justice and a violation of basic human and constitutional rights. "The trial of civilians under military laws is unconstitutional." The spokesperson further said it is shameful and condemnable to target Mr Khan's nephew Hassan Niazi as political revenge to put pressure on the unlawfully incarcerated PTI founding leader.

He went on to say that coercive and shameful tactics are being used against Ibad Farooq to punish his brother for contesting by-elections and to keep him away from the electoral process.

The spokesperson demanded that the Supreme Court of Pakistan should take notice of the enforced disappearance and abduction of Hasan Niazi and Ibad Farooq, and ensure their earliest recovery and hold the abductors accountable.

Earlier, Mr Khan alleged that General Munir was directly involved in the sentence handed down to his wife Bushra Bibi.

"If anything happens to my wife, I will not spare Asim Munir; I will not spare Asim Munir as long as I am alive. I will expose his unconstitutional and illegal steps," he had threatened.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

UP Man Books Cab From Salman Khan's Home Under Gangster's Name, Arrested

A 20-year-old man has been arrested for booking a cab from Bollywood superstar Salman Khan's home in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, said police on Friday.

According to Mumbai police, the accused has been identified as Rohit Tyagi, a 20-year-old man from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

Sharing details, police said that the accused had booked a cab in the name of Lawrence Bishnoi from Galaxy Apartment, the house of actor Salman Khan, to the Bandra Police Station.

"When the cab driver reached Galaxy Apartment at Salman Khan's house and asked the watchman there about the booking, the watchman who was stunned at first, immediately informed about the booking to the nearby Bandra Police Station," said police.

Acting on the same, Bandra Police of Mumbai interrogated the cab driver and tracked the information about the person who booked the cab online.

"The person who booked the cab turned out to be a 20-year-old student from Ghaziabad, identified as Rohit Tyagi," said the police.

The police further said that during the investigation it was revealed that the accused had booked the cab in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi as a prank.

The police registered a case against the accused and arrested him from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.

He was thereafter brought Mumbai and presented before the court after which he was sent to the custody of Bandra Police for two days.

Further details into the matter are awaited.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Kutch Police arrested the two accused persons and handed them to the Mumbai Crime Branch. Later, a city court sent the two accused to the custody of the Mumbai Crime Branch until April 25 in connection with the firing incident.

The accused, identified as Vicky Gupta (24) and Sagar Pal (21) from Bihar, were presented before the court after a medical examination.

The two men, who came on a motorbike, fired four rounds outside the Galaxy Apartments, where the actor resides, around 5 am on Sunday morning and fled.CCTV footage showed that both accused sported caps and carried backpacks.

The clip also showed them firing in the direction of the actor's home.

After the arrest of the accused, Kutch DSP AR Zankant said preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were in contact with the Lawrence Bishnoi gang.

Notably, since November 2022, Salman Khan's security level has been elevated to Y-Plus after threats from gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar.

The actor was also authorised to carry a personal firearm and has also acquired a new armoured vehicle for added protection.

On Monday, Salman's brother Arbaaz Khan issued a statement on the family's behalf, saying they all have been affected due to the 'disturbing' firing incident.

He also shared that the family was fully cooperating with the Mumbai Police in the ongoing probe into the incident.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Ashutosh Sharma - PBKS' Explosive Batter Who Once Sank Into Depression

Punjab Kings batter Ashutosh Sharma slammed a sensational 28-ball-61 but it ended up in the losing effort during the IPL 2024 match against Mumbai Indians on Thursday. It was a valiant effort from the 25-year-old who has shown glimpses of brilliance in the competition this year and his knock took PBKS extremely close to victory despite losing four wickets early. His knock comprised of 2 fours and 7 sixes at an impressive strike rate of 217.86 which took his tournament tally to 156 runs in 4 matches. This was the not first time that he played an explosive knock as he stitched together a brilliant partnership with Shashank Singh to complete a brilliant victory over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024.

This was a huge moment for a cricketer who went through a tough phase in his life from 2020 to 2022 when he was not clear about where his career was headed. "There was a time when I wasn't even allowed to get a feel of the cricket ground," Ashutosh revealed during that period of time.

The youngster had an alleged falling out with then Madhya Pradesh head coach Chandrakant Pandit.

"I would go to the gym and retire to my hotel room. I was sinking into depression and no one told me what my fault was. A new coach had joined Madhya Pradesh and he had strong likes and dislikes and despite scoring 90 odd in 45 balls in a trial match, I was dropped from the team," Ashutosh said.

"I had three fifties in six Mushtaq Ali games in the previous season yet I wouldn't even be allowed to go to the ground. I was very depressed," the 25-year-old told reporters.

During that time, it was a job offer from Railways that proved to be his saviour and during the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, the batter equalled Yuvraj Singh's record of scoring the fastest T20 half-century when he slammed 50 in just 11 deliveries against Arunachal Pradesh.

That was the knock that got him noticed by Punjab Kings batting coach Sanjay Bangar and he was picked up by Punjab Kings in the auction ahead of IPL 2024 for the base price of Rs 20 lakh.

Delhi-Bagdogra Flight Lands Without Luggage, SpiceJet Responds

Several SpiceJet passengers faced inconvenience at the Bagdogra airport in West Bengal on Wednesday when they found that their luggage had been left behind in Delhi.

SpiceJet said the offloaded baggage would be connected through subsequent flights and regretted the inconvenience caused to passengers.

The matter came to light as a passenger, Rajesh Kumar, took to social media to highlight his plight.

"Today the flight SG8841 from Delhi to Bagdogra lost and misplaced our luggage and the staff had no response! They still do not have any resolutions," Kumar, a resident of Noida, posted on X.

The 2.30-hour long direct flight took off from Terminal 3 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi at 12.30 pm.

"On April 17, SpiceJet flight SG 8841 operating from Delhi to Bagdogra faced payload restrictions due to operational reasons, demanding some baggage to be offloaded from the aircraft," an airline spokesperson said.

"The offloaded baggage will be connected through subsequent flights. In the interest of safe flight operations, cargo and baggage are offloaded when payload restrictions are faced," the spokesperson said.

SpiceJet said it "deeply regrets" the inconvenience caused to the affected passengers. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

बटलर ने फिर सेंचुरी ठोक राजस्थान को दिलाई जीत, अकेले पलट दी हारी बाजी

राजस्थान रॉयल्स के खिलाफ कोलकाता नाइटराइडर्स की टीम टॉस हारकर बल्लेबाजी करने उतरी और सुनील नरेन की तूफानी शतक के दम पर 6 विकेट पर 223 रन का स्कोर खड़ा किया. जोस बटलर ने अकेले दम पर मैच का पासा पलट दिया और सेंचुरी जमाते हुए आखिरी ओवर में राजस्थान की टीम को जीत दिलाई.

Assets Of Bengal BJP Chief Rose 114% Since 2019, Says Report

Assets of Darjeeling's sitting BJP MP Raju Bista, who is seeking re-election, registered a 215 per cent rise since the last Lok Sabha elections, an analysis of his self-sworn affidavit revealed.

Assets of BJP's state president Sukanta Majumdar, who is also seeking re-election from the Balurghat seat, recorded a 114 per cent rise since 2019, the report stated.

West Bengal Election Watch and Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) analysed self-sworn affidavits of all 47 candidates who are contesting from three constituencies of West Bengal -- Darjeeling, Balurghat and Raiganj -- that are going to polls in the second phase on April 26.

Mr Bista, according to his affidavit filed during the 2019 elections, had assets worth over Rs 15 crore.

In this election's affidavit, he declared assets worth Rs 47 crore, an increase of over Rs 32 crore.

In 2019, Mr Majumdar declared assets worth Rs 58.25 lakh, which grew to Rs 1.24 crore in 2024, the report stated.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

'Spends Summers In London': GN Azad's 'Tourist' Jibe At Omar Abdullah

Democratic Progressive Azad Party (DPAP) president Ghulam Nabi Azad on Monday alleged that former chief minister Omar Abdullah comes to the valley only as a "tourist," while he spends summers in London and winters in warmer climates abroad.

Mr Azad made the sally as he hit the campaign trail in Doda as a star campaigner, canvassing for party candidate and former minister G M Saroori.

The campaigning in Udhampur-Kathua Lok Sabha constituency has become intense with the exchange of personal attacks by rival politicians.

Congress's Lal Singh is pitted against Union minister and BJP candidate Jitendra Singh in the Udhampur-Kathua parliamentary constituency, which goes to polls in the first phase of the Lok Sabha election on April 19.

DPAP's G M Saroori is among 10 others in the fray.

"Omar sahib ... You visit your maternal grandfather's house during summers in London and some hot country during winters and you come here as a tourist," Mr Azad took a dig at the National Conference vice president in his speech.

Omar Abdullah is also on a campaign trail in Doda district canvassing for Choudhary Lal Singh of Congress, in capacity as a partner in the INDIA bloc.

Lal Singh is contesting for the fourth time from Udhampur Lok Sabha seat.

Mr Azad alleged that Mr Omar used to visit Chenab Valley for five minutes and hasn't come to the area even once in the last several years.

"Have you seen his face in Doda, Bhaderwah or Kishtwar during his tenure as CM? Has he been here for the last 10 years?" Mr Azad said, addressing the public.

He also questioned the whereabouts of "political tourists" during the region's years of hardship and criticised the parties for their silence on issues like land eviction order and the abolition of Article 370.

He accused the NC of tacitly supporting the BJP's agenda for its own interests, over the welfare of the people.

"Where were these political tourists in Chenab Valley during these ten years of people's suffering? Did they raise their voices against land eviction or Article 370 in Parliament?

"They seem to be aiding the BJP in every action. Their leaders are too busy appeasing the BJP, just check their statements. They are the ones who declared their doors open for NDA, not me. So who's the BJP's A team? It's NC," Mr Azad said.

The former Congress leader said that despite such restrictions as the Public Safety Act, Omar Abdullah and "his cohorts" have continued to live luxuriously.

Mr Azad, who is also a former J-K chief minister, said that unlike some, he does not indulge in leisurely vacations and is committed to the alleviation of the suffering of the people.

Mr Azad questioned the Congress party's stance on Article 370 and said he always advocated for Article 370 and 35A, as well as the restoration of statehood of Jammu and Kashmir.

He said that instead of confronting the BJP, the Congress seems to focus on targeting his party.

"Congress is silent on Article 370, they didn't even speak when I was in Congress. Only I know how I managed to speak on Article 370 in parliament," he said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

6,6,6 - Dhoni Turns Back The Clock With Explosive Batting vs Hardik. Watch

The crowd at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai were left stunned as MS Dhoni slammed Hardik Pandya for three back-to-back sixes during the IPL 2024 match between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians on Sunday. Dhoni came out to bat with four balls to go in the CSK innings and ended up scoring 20 runs at a strike rate of 500. Hardik had no answers to Dhoni's explosive batting as the all-rounder was slammed all over the ground with the crowd cheering every shot from the CSK star.

The first delivery from Hardik to Dhoni was a slower one and the batter quickly read the length and heaved it for a massive six over long-off. The bowler followed it up with a length ball but the result was the same as it sailed over wide long-on for the second six in as many balls for Dhoni.

The next delivery was the worst of the lot as Hardik ended up producing a low full toss on the pads and Dhoni just flicked it effortlessly over deep square leg for his third six of the match.

DO NOT MISS

MSD Hat-trick of Sixes Wankhede going berserk

Sit back & enjoy the LEGEND spreading joy & beyond

Watch the match LIVE on @JioCinema and @StarSportsIndia #TATAIPL | #MIvCSK | @msdhoni | @ChennaiIPL pic.twitter.com/SuRErWrQTG

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 14, 2024

Dhoni was looking to hit the final ball of the over for a maximum as well but he ended up mishitting it slightly and settled for a double as CSK's total crossed 200 thanks to the late onslaught.

Coming to the match, Shivam Dube remained unbeaten on 66 while skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad scored a brilliant 69 to take CSK to a big total of 206 for the loss of four wickets. The MI bowlers did not look in control for the majority of the innings and Hardik Pandya was the only one to take two wickets.

"Around about par (total). The pitch gets better as the night gets on because of dew. That's what happened in the last game. Very beneficial (to be alongside Bumrah). He (Bumrah) is probably the best in the world in this format, so learn from him. I'm loving it (the IPL). Great conditions here for cricket and you need to be at your best," Mumbai Indians pacer Gerald Coetzee said during the innings break.

धोनी के छक्के रोहित शर्मा के तूफानी शतक पर भारी, मुंबई को चेन्नई ने हराया

महेंद्र सिंह धोनी के आखिरी ओवर में 500 की स्ट्राइक रेट से खेली गई पारी रोहित शर्मा के आतिशी अर्धशतक पर भारी पड़ी. पहले बल्लेबाजी करते हुए चेन्नई की टीम ने कप्तान रुतुराज गायकवाड और शिवम दुबे की फिफ्टी के दम पर 4 विकेट पर 206 रन का स्कोर खड़ा किया. रोहित शर्मा की तूफानी फिफ्टी के बाद भी मुंबई की टीम जीत का लक्ष्य हासिल नहीं कर पाई.

Congress' Kanhaiya Kumar vs BJP's Manoj Tiwari In North East Delhi Contest

The Congress on Sunday issued another list of 10 candidates for the Lok Sabha election in Delhi and Punjab, tapping former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi for the Jalandhar-SC Lok Sabha seat.

According to the list, the party has fielded veteran politician JP Agarwal from the Chandni Chowk seat and youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar from the North East Delhi seat.

Mr Kumar will be pitted against BJP's Manoj Tiwari, the sole BJP candidate not replaced in the national capital.

For the North West Delhi Lok Sabha seat, the party announced the name of former MP Udit Raj.

In Punjab, the party renominated its sitting MPs Gurjeet Singh Aujla from Amritsar and Amar Singh from Fatehgarh Sahib (SC) Lok Sabha seat.

Former MP Dharvir Gandhi will be contesting from the Patiala Lok Sabha seat. His candidature comes mere days after he joined the Congress leaving the Aam Aadmi Party.

The party has nominated its All India Kisan wing chief Sukhpal Singh Khaira from the Sangrur Lok Sabha seat and Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from the Bathinda Lok Sabha constituency, which is currently represented by SAD chief's wife Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

The Congress announced the name of Ujjwal Revti Raman Singh from Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad Lok Sabha seat.

The opposition party also announced a list of 75 candidates for the Odisha assembly elections.

Parties From These Nations Accept BJP Invite To Witness Its Poll Campaign

Diplomats posted in the country and 25 political parties across the globe have been invited by the ruling BJP to come and witness first-hand the party's campaign for the all-important Lok Sabha polls.

India starts voting in a seven-phase general election on April 19. Votes will be counted on June 4.

Confirmations to witness BJP campaign have come from 15 countries, which includes Nepal, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Sri Lanka and some African countries.

"For the first time in the history of electoral politics of the country, BJP has invited various political parties across the globe to come to India and have a first-hand experience of BJP's campaign. We have invited more than 25 political parties and there's confirmation from 15 of them, mostly in the neighbourhood but also in some far-east Asian countries as well as from African countries," says Vijay Chauthaiwale, who leads the BJP's foreign affairs department.

Unemployment and inflation are the main concerns of Indian voters but Prime Minister Narendra Modi's strong leadership and India's rising global stature will likely help his re-election bid, says The Hindu newspaper citing Lokniti-CSDS survey.

"Entire idea is to show the breadth and depth of BJP campaign that has resulted in the success of party in consecutive elections, be it assembly of Lok Sabha. We are looking forward to welcome them to India. They will be going to various parts of the country and we will show them various facets of BJP campaign," says Mr Chauthaiwale, who was part of PM Modi's 2014 election war room.

"In addition, we will also will be taking various diplomats in India from various countries and again we will show them BJP campaign. We had done this in past during assembly elections. But it will be first time for the Lok Sabha polls," he adds.

PM Modi's BJP, which is aiming to win a third term, won 303 of 543 seats in the 2019 general elections.

The BJP's push faces serious headwinds in the south. Holding repeated rallies across the south, PM Modi has sought to win new voters, offering his "topmost respect" to the south's Tamil culture and language.

In the last polls, the BJP won just over a fifth of seats -- 29 out of 129 -- across the five southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.

In wooing the south, the BJP hopes to wrest the credentials of being a truly pan-India party from its already humbled rival, the opposition Congress Party.

PM Modi's image, bolstered by India's presidency of the G20 last year, has rested widely on his claims of steering the country into becoming one of the world's fastest-growing economies.

Mentally Challenged Boy Reunites With Parents Due To Pendant With QR Code

A pendant with a QR code helped police reunite a mentally challenged 12-year-old boy with his parents, a Mumbai police official said on Friday.

The child was spotted wandering in Colaba in the southern part of the city on Thursday afternoon, he said.

"The child was not able to tell anything cohesively to people who approached him after realising he may be lost and in distress. One of them brought him to a policeman. An alert about a missing person was sent to all police stations but in vain," the official said.

"One of the police personnel found a pendant around the child's neck. He found a QR (quick response) code inside, which when scanned revealed a phone number. It belonged to an NGO that works for mentally unwell children," he said.

A functionary of the NGO told police the child was a resident of Worli and his parents were looking for him since morning, the official added.

"The child was reunited with his father at the police station some time later. It was great relief to us that we could get the child safely back with his parents," the official said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

IPL 2024: दिल्ली ने लखनऊ को अदब से हराया, 11 गेंद बाकी रहते जीत लिया मैच

IPL 2024: दिल्ली कैपिटल्स ने आईपीएल 2024 में जीत की राह पर वापसी कर ली है. ऋषभ पंत की कप्तानी वाली दिल्ली की टीम डीसी ने शुक्रवार को लखनऊ सुपरजायंट्स को 6 विकेट से हराया.

MBBS Student Dies By Suicide In Mumbai, Was Depressed Due To Low Marks

A 22-year-old MBBS student allegedly committed suicide on Friday in the northern Mumbai suburb of Kandivali, a police official said.

Ajay Zangid ended his life at around 11:30am in his house in Charkop, the official said.

"He was a student of a medical college in Latur and was reportedly suffering from depression due to low marks in his exams. He hanged himself in the hall of his house when his mother was in another room and his father was out," the official said.

"His mother spotted him hanging and alerted her husband and neighbours. He was rushed to hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival. The family has told us they do not have complaints against anybody in connection with the incident," the official said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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(If you need support or know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist.)

Triptii, Kartik Lead Celeb Roll Call At Amar Singh Chamkila Screening

A day ahead of the digital release of Amar Singh Chamkila, its makers held a special screening in Mumbai, which was attended by many celebs from the film fraternity. The film's lead pair Diljit Dosanjh and Parineeti Chopra, who play Punjabi folk singers Chamkila and Amarjot were also present at the screening and were seen posing with their director Imtiaz Ali. Diljit and Parineeti looked lovey as they were seen twinning in black outfits. Take a look at some pictures from the night:

Other stars attending the Screening included Kartik Aaryan and Animal star Triptii Dimri. For the unversed, Kartik and Triptii will soon be collaborating for upcoming horror comedy film Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3.

Others stars marking their presence at the screening included musical maestro AR Rahman, Madgaon Express star Avinash Tiwary, Taha Shah, who will bext be seen in Heeramandi, Wamiqa Gabbi among others.

Meanwhile, singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh, who will be seen in the upcoming episode of The Great Indian Kapil Show, talked about his upcoming film Amar Singh Chamkila and shared that he used to think that because he is from Punjab, he would understand Chamkila better. However, Diljit said that he “completely surrendered” to filmmaker Imtiaz Ali's vision.

Diljit Dosanjh said: “I used to think that because I am from Punjab, I would understand Chamkila better. But after I met Imtiaz, I completely surrendered to him.”

"The way he stood, the way he spoke, the way he would react, and even the way he would think, Imtiaz had it all figured out because of his extensive research and homework that he had done on Chamkila,” he added.

The film is set to release on Netflix on April 12.

IPL: युजी ने रहमान से छीना पर्पल कैप, अर्शदीप दे रहे चैलेंज, बुमराह पिछड़े

IPL 2024 में बुधवार को गुजरात टाइटंस और राजस्थान रॉयल्स का मुकाबला हुआ. गुजरात टाइटंस ने इस मुकाबले को आखिरी गेंद पर 3 विकेट से जीता.

IPL 2024 GT vs RR: 12 गेंद पर 37 रन... गुजरात ने जीती हारी हुई बाजी

IPL 2024 RR vs GT: गुजरात टाइटंस ने आईपीएल 2024 में राजस्थान रॉयल्स का विजयरथ रोक दिया है. गुजरात टाइटंस की यह लीग में तीसरी जीत है. राजस्थान रॉयल्स की यह पहली हार है. वह इस हार के बावजूद पॉइंट टेबल में पहले नंबर पर बनी हुई है.

Arvind Kejriwal Gave Orders To Atishi From Jail Through Lawyers: Court

A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed an application moved by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, arrested in a money laundering case, seeking more time with his lawyers and said relevant rules are equally applicable to him and other inmates and that he allegedly used legal consultations allowed by the court to issue certain administrative directions.

Special judge for CBI and ED cases Kaveri Baweja, dismissing Mr Kejriwal's application for five meetings with his lawyers every week, said he failed to satisfy the court that he had been using the two permitted legal meetings per week solely for the purpose of discussing the pending litigations with his counsel.

“The status report/note filed by the ED indicates that the applicant had dictated certain directions for being passed on to the Water Minister, to one of his lawyers (whose name he refused to disclose to the ED), during the course of a legal meeting. It thus appears that the applicant is not even utilizing the permitted two legal interviews per week with his counsels solely for discussing his pending litigations and has rather used the allotted time for purposes other than legal interviews in the aforesaid manner,” the judge said.

The judge cited a Delhi High Court judgment, which said every citizen of India is entitled to protection of law, which will also equally apply to him.

The judge dismissed Mr Kejriwal's submission that about 35 cases were pending against him across the country for which he needed more time with his lawyer for consultation, saying his application was bereft of necessary details of cases, including their number, the nature and stage of proceedings.

"Though, in the course of arguments, it was submitted by counsel for applicant that there are about 30-35 litigations regarding which the applicant needs to have consultations and discussions with his counsels, but, there does not appear to be any objective criteria for assessing if five meetings with his lawyers per week would be sufficient to address the concern of the applicant or that two meetings, which are permitted as per jail rules, are insufficient for this purpose," the judge said.

"In the absence of any such objective criteria for assessment, the prayer of the applicant for five legal interviews with his lawyers per week not only appears to be whimsical but also seems to have been made without any statistical basis or objective standards for assessment," the judge said.

The ED had opposed Mr Kejriwal's application, saying special privileges cannot be extended to him merely because he wants to run the government from inside the jail.

It had alleged that legal interviews were being misused by Kejriwal for purposes other than consultation.

Arvind Kejriwal issued some instructions on matters related to governance from jail and his Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) asserted he will run the government from there.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

"Credibility In Serious Danger": Shivraj Chouhan On Kamal Nath

A record loss for senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, a record victory for the BJP and the fall of the Congress's last citadel, Chhindwara -- former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan appeared more than confident about his party's performance in the coming Lok Sabha election.

The BJP, he said, will win all 29 parliamentary seats in Madhya Pradesh. That includes Rajgarh, from where Digvijaya Singh is contesting, as well as Chhindwara, Kamal Nath's constituency from where the Congress has fielded his son Nakul Nath.

"Rajgarh has been breached, you have to see that Digvijay Singh ji will lose with record votes, his magic is not working there," Mr Chouhan told NDTV in an exclusive interview.

About Kamal Nath, he said the former Chief Minister's "credibility is in serious danger and many people thought that if he is leaving then we should also follow him". Many of them did finally join the BJP.

About these newcomers, Mr Chouhan said those who wish to join the "movement of national reconstruction" are welcome. "Congress workers are disappointed, now that there is nothing left in the Congress -- neither leader, nor policy, nor direction," he added.

Mr Chouhan has much to be proud of about the BJP's spectacular performance in the assembly elections. Though the four-time Chief Minister was not offered the top job again, he now has his task cut out. Mr Chouhan is the BJP's star campaigner in the state he knows like the back of his hand.

The 64-year-old is out at 8 am and is never back before 2 in the night. It is a tough ask, but Mr Chouhan has the experience. Ahead of the last assembly election, he addressed more than 160 rallies throughout the state in roughly 37 days.

His campaign for the Lok Sabha elections is a meticulously planned endeavor, designed to connect with voters at every level. From bustling city centers to remote villages, he criss-crosses his constituency along with the rest of the state, addressing public gatherings, interacting with locals, and listening to their concerns. His oratory skills, coupled with a deep understanding of grassroots issues, allow him to strike a chord with diverse audiences.

As the Lok Sabha elections approach, Mr Chouhan's campaign resonates with promises of progress, development, and unwavering commitment to the people of Madhya Pradesh.

Asked about the possible outcome of the election, Mr Chouhan said, Narendra Modi ji resides in the hearts of the people of Madhya Pradesh, people do not just consider him as a leader, they look at him with reverence and devotion".

Mr Chouhan said he is not worried about his own seat, given the "love and blessings" of the people he has received over the last three terms. "The entire Lok Sabha constituency in the state is my family and that is why I go everywhere," he said.

The veteran leader is contesting from Vidisha – a constituency he represented five times before becoming the Chief Minister in November 2005. Currently, he is the MLA from the Budhni assembly seat, which is under the Vidisha Lok Sabha constituency.

His opponent is Pratap Bhanu Sharma from Congress. On how Mr Sharma had challenged him earlier as well, Mr Chouhan said, "I respect the dignity of every person, he has been an MP twice before, I respect him too".

In a political career spanning decades, Mr Chouhan has held various significant positions within the BJP, including three consecutive terms as the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh.

"Don't Vote For National Conference If...": Farooq Abdullah To J&K Voters

National Conference president Farooq Abdullah told voters in Jammu and Kashmir not to vote for the party if they are satisfied with the abrogation of Article 370. He appealed to the people of the Union Territory to defeat the BJP and its "B" and "C" teams to send a message to Delhi.

Mr Abdullah chaired a meeting with constituency in-charges of the North Kashmir parliamentary seat at the party headquarters Nawa-i-Subah in Srinagar, a party statement said.

The discussions encompassed crucial matters concerning the region's issues and organisational affairs with key emphasis on strengthening the party for the parliamentary elections.

Emphasising on defeating the BJP and its "B" and "C" teams, he said time and again these parties proved they hold a tacit understanding with the BJP.

"With each passing day our stand is vindicated. However, they all will meet the same fate on the voting dates. I can sense that people are readying themselves to give the BJP a befitting reply through the ballot," the NC president said.

He said there is a "groundswell of anger" against the BJP and this needs to be demonstrated.

"There is an increasing realisation in people of Jammu that BJP has denuded them of their exclusive land, job rights and contracts. The complete failure of BJP in living up to their promises on development has also badly exposed their double standards," he added.

Mr Abdullah said the BJP's team "Bs" are now "nakedly supporting" the party ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.

"Conspiracies hatched by them to defeat the NC candidates would prove futile. Those who want to vote for BJP should rather vote directly for the BJP, because eventually these A, B, C, and D teams will sell your mandate to BJP to negotiate power. Every vote cast in favour of these B teams will go to BJP.

"People should decide and send a message to Delhi. If the people of Jammu and Kashmir are satisfied with the August 5, 2019 decision, they should not vote for the National Conference," he said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

यश ठाकुर के 'पंच' से सहमे गुजरात के 'टाइटंस', पहली बार विरोधियों को चटाई धूल

लखनऊ सुपरजॉयंट्स ने पहले बल्लेबाजी करते हुए 5 विकेट पर 163 रन बनाए. मार्कस स्टोइनिस ने 43 गेंदों पर 58 रन बनाए वहीं कप्तान केएल राहुल 31 गेंदों पर 33 रन बनाकर आउट हुए. गुजरात टाइटंस ने 28 रन के भीतर 5 विकेट गंवा दिए थे. क्रुणाल पंड्या ने गेंदबाजी में धमाल मचाया. एलएसजी की गुजरात के खिलाफ पिछले 5 मैचों में यह पहली जीत है.

Akhilesh Yadav Party's Gorakhpur Candidate Kajal Nishad Hospitalised

The Samajwadi Party candidate from Gorakhpur Lok Sabha constituency Kajal Nishad was rushed to a private hospital in Lucknow after her health deteriorated on Sunday.

"She was experiencing some issues with her blood pressure and heart. We are taking her to Lucknow," Kajal's husband Sanjay Nishad told reporters here.

Kajal Nishad (41) is in the fray against actor and sitting BJP MP Ravi Kishan Shukla from the high-profile Gorakhpur seat.

Kajal Nishad is a popular TV actress and has worked in various daily soaps, including Lapataganj.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Official Suspended As AAP Alleges Abusive Language In Reply To Application

The Haryana government suspended the Kaithal sub-divisional magistrate-cum-assistant returning officer on Saturday, a day after the AAP alleged that its application seeking permission for two poll programmes was denied with abusive language in the reply.

According to an official order, Haryana Civil Services (HCS) officer Brahm Parkash has been suspended with immediate effect.

During the period of suspension, the headquarters of Parkash will be in the office of the chief secretary to the Haryana government in Chandigarh and he will not leave the headquarters without the chief secretary's prior permission, the order said.

The AAP had alleged that its application seeking permission for two poll events from the authorities concerned was denied with abusive language in the reply.

Taking cognisance of the matter, Parkash had ordered the suspension of five computer operators and directed police to conduct a thorough probe.

Sushil Gupta, the Haryana unit chief of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who is contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha election from the Kurukshetra constituency, had on Friday said the party had sought permission for the two poll programmes on April 7.

Kaithal is located within the Kurukshetra parliamentary constituency.

"In the reply we received, in one case, it was mentioned in writing that the permission has been rejected. In another, abuses were mentioned in the column where reasons for either approval or rejection have to be given," Gupta had said.

Nothing can be more shameful than the use of such objectionable language, he had said while requesting the Election Commission for strict action in the matter.

AAP leaders said they had applied for the permission for the April 7 programmes on the designated portal.

The Lok Sabha polls are scheduled to be held in seven phases starting April 19 and the counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.

Haryana goes to polls on May 25. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

राजस्थान के 2 खिलाड़ियों से हारी आरसीबी, कोहली का शतक बेकार

विराट कोहली के 8वें शतक की बदौलत आरसीबी ने पहले बैटिंग करते हुए 3 विकेट पर 183 रन बनाए. कोहली ने 67 गेंदों पर अपना शतक पूरा किया. उन्होंने 39 गेंदों पर फिफ्टी पूरी की. विराट के शतक के बावजूद आरसीबी को हार मिली. राजस्थान ने आरसीबी को 6 विकेट से हराकर जीत का चौका लगाया. संजू सैमसन की कप्तानी वाली राजस्थान टीम 8 अंक लेकर अंक तालिका में पहले नंबर पर पहुंच गई है. आरसीबी की 5 मैचों में यह चौथी हार है.

Gaza's Largest Hospital "An Empty Shell With Human Graves": WHO

The World Health Organization said Saturday that Gaza's largest hospital had been reduced to ashes by Israel's latest siege, leaving an "empty shell" with many bodies.

Israeli forces pulled out of Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City on Monday after a two-week military operation, during which it said it had battled Palestinian operatives inside what was once the Palestinian territory's most important medical complex.

A WHO-led mission finally accessed the hospital on Friday, after multiple failed attempts since March 25, the UN health agency said, describing the massive destruction.

.@WHO and partners managed to reach Al-Shifa — once the backbone of the health system in #Gaza, which is now an empty shell with human graves after the latest siege. The team witnessed at least five dead bodies during the mission.

Most of the buildings in the hospital complex… pic.twitter.com/jSKVfZkR5f

— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) April 6, 2024

"WHO and partners managed to reach Al-Shifa -- once the backbone of the health system in Gaza, which is now an empty shell with human graves after the latest siege," agency chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

He said the team had seen "at least five dead bodies during the mission".

They had also found that "most of the buildings in the hospital complex are extensively destroyed and the majority of assets damaged or reduced to ashes", the WHO chief said.

"Even restoring minimal functionality in the short term seems implausible," he said, adding that "an in-depth assessment by a team of engineers is needed to determine if the remaining buildings are safe for future use".

Tedros lamented that efforts by WHO and other aid groups to revive basic services at Al-Shifa after Israel's first devastating raid on the hospital last year "are now lost, and people are once again deprived of access to lifesaving health care services".

Of Gaza's 36 main hospitals, only 10 remain partially functional, according to WHO.

The Gaza war began on October 7 with an unprecedented attack cross-border attack by Hamas militants resulting in the death of 1,170 people in southern Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP toll from official Israeli figures.

Palestinian militants also took around 250 hostages, about 130 of whom remain in Gaza. The army says that more than 30 are dead.

Vowing to destroy Hamas, Israel has relentlessly bombarded the territory, killing at least 33,137 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.

Tedros said urgent action was needed in Gaza as "famine looms, disease outbreaks spread and trauma injuries increase".

He called for the "protection of remaining health facilities in Gaza (and) protection of health and humanitarian workers".

The WHO chief demanded "unimpeded access of humanitarian aid into and across the Gaza Strip" and a "ceasefire".

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Cummins Withdraws Field Obstruction Appeal vs Jadeja. Sparks Big Debate

Chennai Super Kings batters found the going tough against SunRisers Hyderabad as they could score only 165/5 in 20 overs against SunRisers Hyderabad. In-form Shivam Dube top-scored with a 24-ball 45 while veteran Ajinkya Rahane contributed a sedate 35 off 30 balls after CSK were asked to bat on a pitch that didn't seem like a proverbial belter. The duo's 65-run partnership for the third wicket from just 6.3 overs was the only highlight of the CSK innings.

CSK added only 37 runs in the last five overs and that could be the turning point in the match.

But credit must be given to CSK's all-season's man Ravindra Jadeja, whose unbeaten 31 off 23 balls was the added fillip that the defending champions needed at the end. There was a point in the innings in the 19th over as Jadeja got in the way of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's throw at the stumps. SRH's Heinrich Klaasen also looked like signalling that he might be obstructing the field. But SRH skipper Pat Cummins  withdrew the appeal. 

Obstructing or not?

Skipper Pat Cummins opts not to appeal #SRHvCSK #IPLonJioCinema #TATAIPL pic.twitter.com/l85UXQEa4S

— JioCinema (@JioCinema) April 5, 2024

Mohammad Kaif, however, said: "Two questions to Pat Cummins on withdrawing the obstructing the field appeal against Jadeja. Was it a tactical call to let a struggling Jadeja be the crease and keep Dhoni indoors? Would he have done the same if it was Virat Kohli at World T20?"

Two questions to Pat Cummins on withdrawing the obstructing the field appeal against Jadeja. Was it a tactical call to let a struggling Jadeja be the crease and keep Dhoni indoors? Would he have done the same if it was Virat Kohli at World T20?

— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 5, 2024

But some social media users praised Cummins for his stand too.

Jadeja obstructing the field at 19th over against Bhuvi, it is clearly out, SRH could have appealed but we should appreciate Pat Cummins to withdraw the appeal.#SRHvsCSK #IPL2024

— Vibinraj (@vibin1021) April 5, 2024

Coming out at the fag end of the innings, former captain MS Dhoni remained not out on one from two balls.

For SRH, it was a collective bowling effort with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Pat Cummins, T Natarajan Shahbaz Ahmed and Jaydev Unadkat taking a wicket apiece.

CSK made a decent start, reaching 25 for no loss in three overs before veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave SRH the breakthrough with his first wicket of the season in the form of Rachin Ravindra who slices it straight to Markram in the first ball of the fourth over.

One down Rahane then hit SRH captain Cummins for a six in the fifth over. CSK took 15 runs from the sixth over bowled by Bhuvneshwar Kumar with Rahane and his captain Ruturaj Gaikwad hitting a four and a six respectively.

CSK were well-placed at 48 for 1 at the end of first powerplay but the introduction of spin in the form of Shahbaz Ahmed did the trick as Gaikwad was out for 26 off 21 balls, with Abdul Samad taking a simple catch at long-on.

Rahane did score useful runs but never really looked fluent in his strokeplay as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jaydev Unadkat and T Natarajan took pace off their deliveries to stem the flow of runs.

Dube was the primary scorer during their 65-run partnership for the third wicket from just 6.3 overs. Dube, who has already scored a fifty this season, was more aggressive then his senior partner, hitting two fours and four towering sixes during his 24-ball innings. He is indeed making a good case for himself as a finisher in Indian squd for T20 World Cup in the Americas.

He was finally deceived by a pace off delivery from Pat Cummins ball outside off and gave an easy catch to Kumar at backward point in the 14th over.

Rahane was out in the next over off the bowling of Unadkat and the two quick wickets did not help CSK's cause.

With PTI inputs